ScienceDaily: Latest Science News

Valley Networks On Mars Formed During Long Period Of Episodic Flooding Posted: 09 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT Ancient features on the surface of Mars called valley networks may well have been carved by recurrent floods during a long period when the martian climate may have been much like that of some arid or semiarid regions on Earth. An alternative theory that the valleys were carved by catastrophic flooding over a relatively short time is not supported by the new results.

Gene Therapy For Blindness Improves Vision, Safety Study Indicates Posted: 09 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT No significant adverse effects were reported during a safety trial testing gene therapy on three patients with a type of hereditary blindness called Leber congenital amaurosis type 2. In addition, the subjects said the vision in their treated eyes was slightly improved in dim lighting conditions.

Urbanization Reconfigures Surface Hydrology Posted: 09 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT What are the consequences of human-made tinkering with land cover and hydrology on surrounding native desert ecosystems and biodiversity? This question forms the backdrop for a case study published in the journal BioScience, which found that one of the most profound impacts of urbanization is the "reconfiguration of surface hydrology."

Routine Use Of MRI Scans To Evaluate Breast Cancer Challenged Posted: 09 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT A new study suggests women with newly-diagnosed breast cancer who receive an MRI after their diagnosis face delays in starting treatment and are more likely to receive a mastectomy. The study also shows that despite lack of evidence of their benefit, the routine use of MRI scans in women newly diagnosed increased significantly between 2004 and 2005, and again in 2006.

Putting The Squeeze On Nitrogen For High Energy Materials Posted: 09 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT Researchers from the Carnegie Institution's Geophysical Laboratory report changes in the melting temperature of solid nitrogen at pressures up to 120 gigapascals and temperatures reaching 2,500° Kelvin. These results, plus observed changes in the structure of solid nitrogen at high pressures, could lead to new high energy nitrogen- or hydrogen-based fuels in the future. Hypothesized nitrogen polymers could form materials with higher energy content than any known non-nuclear material.

Fluctuations In Serotonin Transport May Explain Winter Blues Posted: 09 Sep 2008 10:00 AM CDT In the first study of its kind in the living human brain, scientists have discovered greater levels of serotonin transporter in the brain in winter than in summer. These findings have important implications for understanding seasonal mood change in healthy people, vulnerability to seasonal affective disorders and the relationship of light exposure to mood.

Childbirth Was Already Difficult For Neanderthals Posted: 09 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT Neanderthals had a brain at birth of a similar size to that of modern-day babies. However, after birth, their brain grew more quickly than it does for Homo sapiens and became larger too. Nevertheless, the individual lifespan ran just as slowly as it does for modern human beings.

Early Warning System For Cardiac Patients For Home Use Posted: 09 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT Heart disease is the number one cause of death in Europe and early diagnosis is essential to save lives. Monitoring the heart's rhythm and electrical activity in real time using an electrocardiogram (ECG) provides vital information about abnormalities and gives clues to the nature of a problem.

Early Phase Breast Cancer Study Suggests New Approach Can Re-sensitize Tumors Posted: 09 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT Women with hormone-receptor positive, metastatic breast cancer may take medications for years to help keep their cancer at bay, but when the tumor becomes resistant to anti-hormonal drugs, treatment with chemotherapy becomes the only option. But a new study may change this approach. Early data suggests a new treatment approach can "re-sensitize" the tumor, allowing anti-hormonal drugs to do their job once again.

Scientists Await Start-up Of Large Hadron Collider Posted: 09 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT The moment that James Pilcher has been waiting for since 1994 will arrive at 1:30 a.m. CDT on Wednesday, Sept. 10, when the world's largest scientific instrument is scheduled to begin operation. Physicists built the particle detector for the ATLAS (A Toroidal LHC ApparatuS) experiment at LHC, with the search for the Higgs boson and supersymmetry in mind. Theoretically speaking, the long-sought Higgs boson is the particle that endows all objects in the universe with mass. Evidence of supersymmetric particles, meanwhile, could provide an understanding of the dark matter, which makes up about a quarter of the mass of the universe.

Birds' Harmonious Duets Can Be 'Aggressive Audio Warfare,' Study Finds Posted: 09 Sep 2008 07:00 AM CDT Researchers have new insight into the motivating factors that drive breeding pairs of some tropical bird species to sing duets. Those duets can be so closely matched that human listeners often mistake them for solos.

As Andean Glacier Retreats, Tiny Life Forms Swiftly Move In Posted: 09 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT Scientists working at 16,400 feet in the Peruvian Andes has discovered how barren soils uncovered by retreating glacier ice can swiftly establish a thriving community of microbes, setting the table for lichens, mosses and alpine plants. The discovery is the first to reveal how microbial life becomes established and flourishes in one of the most extreme environments on Earth and has implications for how life may have once flourished on Mars.

Ecologists Search For Invasive Ladybird’s Weak Spot Posted: 09 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT Ecologists have discovered that -- as well as being larger, hungrier and more aggressive than most British native ladybirds -- the invasive alien harlequin ladybird is also more resistant to fungal disease and a parasitic wasp, two common natural enemies of native ladybirds.

African-Americans Have Unique Lung Cancer Risks From Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Posted: 09 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT Scientists have developed a risk prediction assessment for lung cancer specifically for African-Americans that suggests a greater risk from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

US Air Force Technology Helps Scientists Understand Plant Root Function Posted: 09 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT Scientists have developed a non-invasive technique that uses thermal neutron attenuation to measure spatial and temporal distribution of water in soils. The study focuses on the McClellan Nuclear Radiation Center in Sacramento, Calif., developed by the US Air Force.

More Off-premise Alcohol Outlets Can Lead To More Injuries Among Neighborhood Children Posted: 09 Sep 2008 04:00 AM CDT Injuries are the leading cause of death among children ages one to 14 in the United States. A first-of-its-kind study shows that numerous off-premise alcohol outlets in neighborhoods can reduce overall guardianship of children's activities, leading to increased injuries.

Presence Of Planets In Young Gas Discs Hinted At Using Clever New Astronomical Method Posted: 09 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT Astronomers have been able to study planet-forming discs around young Sun-like stars in unsurpassed detail, clearly revealing the motion and distribution of the gas in the inner parts of the disc. This result, which possibly implies the presence of giant planets, relies on the use of a very clever method enabled by ESO's Very Large Telescope.

Genetic Variants Associated With Vitamin B12 Posted: 09 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT Researchers have identified a common genetic influence on B12 vitamin levels in the blood, suggesting a new way to approach the biological connections between an important biochemical variable and deficiency-related diseases.

Shifting Earth Near Closed Mines: Ground In Dutch Province Rising Faster Than Expected Posted: 09 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT The ground in the Dutch province of South-Limburg is not as stable as had been thought. Satellite observations have shown greater localized rises than expected. Newly-developed technology has also enabled improved charting of ground subsidence in the provinces of Groningen and North-Holland. The satellites measure ground shifts down to the last millimeter.

Creating Lung Cancer Risk Models For Specific Populations Refines Prediction Posted: 09 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT Lung cancer risk prediction models are enhanced by taking into account risk factors by race and by measuring DNA repair capacity, according to epidemiologists.

Scientists Develop Model To Map Continental Margins Posted: 09 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT Scientists at the University of Liverpool have developed a new exploration method to assist the oil and gas industry in identifying more precisely where the oceans and continents meet.

Middle Schoolers And Alcohol: Tips For Parents From AAAS Posted: 09 Sep 2008 01:00 AM CDT The first few weeks of middle school are a frenzy of friends, parties, and school events. It's also time for parents to start talking with their kids about the dangers of drinking alcohol, according to the Science Inside Alcohol Project of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Memory Enhanced By Sports-cheat Drug Posted: 08 Sep 2008 11:00 PM CDT A drug used to increase blood production in both medical treatments and athletic doping scandals seems also to improve memory in those using it. New research shows that the memory enhancing effects of erythropoietin (EPO) are not related to its effects on blood production but due to direct influences on neurons in the brain. The findings may prove useful in the treatment of diseases affecting brain function, such as schizophrenia, multiple sclerosis, and Alzheimer's.

Marijuana Ingredients Show Promise In Battling Superbugs Posted: 08 Sep 2008 10:00 PM CDT Substances in marijuana show promise for fighting deadly drug-resistant bacterial infections, including so-called "superbugs," without causing the drug's mood-altering effects, scientists in Italy and the United Kingdom are reporting.

Gene Therapy Prevents Blindness In An Animal Model Of Mitochondrial Dysfunction Posted: 08 Sep 2008 10:00 PM CDT Scientists have created an animal model suitable for testing and validating gene therapies for treatment of a common mitochondrial dysfunction that causes loss of vision.

Structure Of Key Epigenetics Component Identified Posted: 08 Sep 2008 10:00 PM CDT Scientists from the Structural Genomics Consortium have determined the 3-D structure of a key protein component involved in enabling "epigenetic code" to be copied accurately from cell to cell. The research not only represents an advance for the epigenetics field, but also an advance for how the science was done.

First Prognosticator Of Survival In Aggressive Cancer Revealed Posted: 08 Sep 2008 10:00 PM CDT The tumor suppressor gene pRb2/p130 may provide the first independent prognostic biomarker in cases of soft tissue sarcoma, according to new research.

Alpine Fungi Collected In Beartooth Mountains Of Montana Posted: 08 Sep 2008 10:00 PM CDT Some of the world's top experts on fungi recently collected fungi and mushrooms above tree line in the Beartooth Mountains near Red Lodge, Mont.

Will The 'Bare Below The Elbows' Rule For Doctors Cut Infection Rates Or Just Patient Confidence? Posted: 08 Sep 2008 10:00 PM CDT Should surgeons be bare below the elbows and tie-less or are new UK dress rules for doctors compromising their professional image without sufficient evidence that hospital-acquired infections will be reduced?

Hunt For Elusive Higgs Boson -- Most Highly Sought-after Particle In Physics -- Gets Boost Posted: 08 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT The hunt for the Higgs boson, the most highly sought-after particle in physics, received a boost this month with two new results from the Tevatron particle collider at Fermilab in Illinois. Scientists working on the DZero particle detector experiment have for the first time successfully observed pairs of Z bosons at the Tevatron. Pair production of these force carrying particles is extremely rare and difficult to detect, and researchers say that having observed them represents a big step towards observing the Higgs boson itself.

Common Painkillers Lower Levels Of Prostate Cancer Biomarker, Study Shows Posted: 08 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT Common painkillers like aspirin and ibuprofen appear to lower a man's PSA level, the blood biomarker widely used by physicians to help gauge whether a man is at risk of prostate cancer. But the authors of the study caution that men shouldn't take the painkillers in an effort to prevent prostate cancer just yet.

Tracking The Reasons Many Girls Avoid Science And Math Posted: 08 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT The self-confidence instilled by parents and teachers is more important for young girls learning math and science than their initial interest. The three-year study aimed to identify supports and barriers that steer girls and young women toward or away from science and math during their education.

Gaining A Better Understanding Of Kidney Diseases Posted: 08 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT By introducing a genetic switch in mice it is possible to increase or decrease the production of specific protein molecules in their kidneys. Thus, researchers can study the influence of specific proteins on disease development. This model of investigating severe kidney diseases was published in Nature Medicine.

Unexplored Arctic Region To Be Mapped Posted: 08 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT A scientific expedition this fall will map the unexplored Arctic seafloor where the US and Canada may have sovereign rights over natural resources such as oil and gas and control over activities such as mining. Both countries will use the resulting data to establish the outer limits of the continental shelf, according to the criteria set out in the Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Txt Crimes, Sex Crimes And Murder: The Science Of Forensic Linguistics Posted: 08 Sep 2008 07:00 PM CDT Text and instant messaging may soon cease to be an anonymous method of communication as advances in forensic linguistic research make it possible to identify the sender and also predict the gender and age of the author with some degree of success.

Can Science Improve Man's Best Friend? Posted: 08 Sep 2008 04:00 PM CDT While animal buyers often look closely at physical characteristics, behavioral traits can make the difference between a dog becoming a much loved and pampered family member, or a mistreated or neglected unwanted animal. Science and breeding can be used to produce dogs that have characteristics desired by average dog owners and are well suited to the domestic environment.

Best Way To Treat Malaria: Avoid Using Same Drug For Everyone, Scientists Say Posted: 08 Sep 2008 04:00 PM CDT Scientists employing a sophisticated computer model have found that many governments worldwide are recommending the wrong kind of malaria treatment.

New Rules Needed To Govern World's Fragile Polar Regions Posted: 08 Sep 2008 04:00 PM CDT Consideration of international law and policy issues in polar regions is urgently needed as climate change opens the Arctic Ocean to shipping, fishing, and other resource exploitation, and as growing numbers of bioprospectors, researchers and tourists flock to Antarctica, all with potentially serious environmental consequences in these highly fragile ecosystems.

New Stem Cell Screening Tool Takes Adult Stem Cell Research To New Level Posted: 08 Sep 2008 04:00 PM CDT A bioinformatic system takes adult stem cell research to a new level. Rather than using stem cells from embryonic sources, which opens difficult ethical and complicated scientific issues, scientists have been looking to adult human stem cells, culled from a person's own body. Adult stem cells are now being cultivated from various tissues in the body -- from skin, bones and even wisdom teeth.

Safer Skies For The Flying Public: New Air Traffic Control System Model Will Track Variables Without Human Input Posted: 08 Sep 2008 04:00 PM CDT Researchers are developing an air traffic control system that can track multiple flight locations and changing weather conditions and help controllers optimize traffic flow and air safety.

Sweating, Crying May Help Prevent Exercise-Induced Asthma In Athletes Posted: 08 Sep 2008 04:00 PM CDT An athlete's ability to sweat may do more than keep the body cool. It also may prevent the development of exercise-induced asthma, a common respiratory condition among trained athletes.

Comets Throw Light On Solar System's Beginnings Posted: 08 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT A new picture of the composition of comets is emerging. The early solar system is commonly believed to have been formed from a cold outer region and a hot inner region, which did not exchange material. But the comet Wild-2 contains both iron oxides, which suggests that it was exposed to small trickles of water, and chromium oxide (a high temperature mineral). This means that material must have moved between the two regions.

Numerous Undiscovered Gene Alterations In Pancreatic And Brain Cancers Detected Posted: 08 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT Investigators have detected a multitude of broken, missing, and overactive genes in pancreatic and brain tumors, in the most detailed genetic survey yet of any human tumor. Some of these genetic changes were previously unknown and could provide new leads for improved diagnosis and therapy for these devastating cancers.

Cassini Images Ring Arcs Among Saturn's Moons Posted: 08 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT NASA's Cassini spacecraft has detected a faint, partial ring orbiting with one small moon of Saturn, and has confirmed the presence of another partial ring orbiting with a second moon.  This is further evidence that most of the planet's small, inner moons orbit within partial or complete rings.

Obese People With Asthma Have Nearly Five Times Greater Risk Of Hospitalization For Asthma Posted: 08 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT A new study found obese people with asthma are 4.6 times more likely to be hospitalized for asthma than non-obese people with asthma. The study surveyed 1,113 asthmatics and is the first study to control for risk factors that explain the obesity-asthma association: smoking, oral or inhaled corticosteroid medication use, gastroesophageal reflux disorder and demographics. The study found obese people had a harder time controlling asthma day-to-day compared to non-obese people with asthma.

Plastic Bottles: Bisphenol A Of 'Some Concern' According To U.S. Government Report Posted: 08 Sep 2008 01:00 PM CDT Current human exposure to bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in many polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins, is of "some concern" for effects on development of the prostate gland and brain and for behavioral effects in fetuses, infants and children, according to a final report released in the U.S. by the National Toxicology Program.

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